We are apt to chafe at restrictions of all kinds, but these may
be disguised blessings. Oftener the narrower the outward sphere,
the more valuable the outcome. The lenses of a telescope are
narrow, but through them we read the story of the stars. Darwin
in the earthworm saw wonders which he spent several years in
investigating. The wise botanist does not gather all the flowers
in the garden at once; he confines himself to single specimens.
One of Murillo’s finest pictures is in the Louvre at Paris. It
shows us the interior of a convent kitchen; but doing the work
there are not mortals in old dresses, but angels, white-winged
and beautiful. One serenely puts the kettle on the fire to boil,
and one is lifting up a pail of water with heavenly grace, and
one is at the kitchen dresser reaching up for plates. As the
painter puts it, all on the canvas are so busy, and working
with such a will, and so refining the work as they do it, that
somehow you forget that pans are pans and pots are pots, and
only think of the angels, and how very natural and beautiful
kitchen work is--just what the angels would do.
(1856)
=Lincoln and Children=--See CHILDREN, LINCOLN’S REGARD FOR.
=Lincoln Story=--See GOOD FOR EVIL.
=Lincoln’s First Dollar=--See MONEY, EARNING.
=Liquor=--See MONEY, HOW WE SPEND OUR.